Cigarette ejecting device



Aug. 21, 1945. P. Gamma,

ECTING DEVICE I Fiied Sept. 3, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Mc/ozflsI? Ch me 7 TTORNE 1945- N. P. COURTNEY 2,382,977

CIGARETTE EJECTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 3, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORMal/01 95 7. Gaye-7M5? Jib,

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 21, 1945 r PATENT I CIGARETTE-EJECTING DEVICEjNicho'lasi lf,CenrtneyQNewYork,N.Y1 V t hiplieationf sept jember 3,imasqmno. 457,142 a 19 Claims. (01.1 toe-41.2 This intention relatesftoanin proredl'cigarette ejecting [device forfcigaretteypackages and thelike and is more patticularly intended for assisting one to removethefirst few cigarettes from a'pa'ckage oiyin an alternatii eus'eg torender substantially all cigarettes in a package]easily;removahleftopermit their transfer to a cigarette "case or othercontainer. H I .7 I

It is common practice ior, cigarette users, in first opening apackagefof cigarettes; to tear awaya portion of the top of jtheipackage, toward one end thereof, whereby to provide an openingpermitting thereinovaLofthe :iirstoneor several cigar rettes, Thesepackages are ordinarily formed and. closed by; machinery'.and thecig'arettes are usu+ even with "the mentioned end portionof thetop tornaway it is c iifiicultto' start thepackage. some users tap the vpackageto causefone or more cig arettes to rise throughthe mentioned open ng.This expedient oftenjils inefiective and in any event has a tendencytofshakefsome of the tobac co out of the eigai ettegil Another expedientoften employed is to tear d o'wn the side of the package I fromthementionedgtdp opening and then: attempt to grip onefside of theoigarettevbetween one finger and the fingernail of an adjacent finger.

Thisusually results in damaging thcigarette and,

to provide practical'mearis associated with and preferably incorporatedinto a cigarette package at the time it is formed and filled, wherebythe first one or several cigarettes may be rrioved upwardly to protrudeout of thementioned small opening torninto the top of the package to anextent sutjficient to enable the user to easily grasp one or severalcigarettes and remove them Without damage thereto. Theremovalfo'fsubsequent cigarettes, of course; is no preblelni inasmuch asthe removaiof the first oneer two leaves theremainder enclosed looselyWithin the package and hencethey are; easily removed. I i

Another sweet 61 the invention is the movieionof means wmenwm enableauser, ifhe so desires,totear awafifithe entire top covering of thepackage and toreadily and e'asilymove substanrelatively rigid materialplacedin the bottom of thepack underneath the Tower e'ii k is of thecigarettes, the saidinsertbeing so cut atcertain portionsandso scoredjatother portions that it may be deformed by pressure movement to the.cigarettes, thuicausingthem to a any packed so tightly within' thepackage that protrude as desired ofthepackagebj v 4 I t ordery toexpiainthe i sent invention with more particularity twd embod ments ofzthe invention are shown in the accompanying drawings fonillustratiilepurposes, a withoutfjlirniting theini/entiori theteto. M In thedrawingse through an opening in-the top t Figure;l isa'perspectiue Viewof 'a c ig arette tially the entire contents of the package upward- 1ysoth'at they protrude sufficiently te enable him to conveniently removethem and transfer them package lQoking upwa fdly at thho'ttbrh thereof,the bottom of the package being indicated as transparent inorder to Showtheundersitie of one form of the'inentionedinsert (hereinafter referredto as the first embodiment);

Fig. 2 is asimiiarview ofai'ike package showing theefiect ofpressingthesidesKofthe package together at one end =of1the bottomthereof and showing cigarettes at that end of the'package hioiiedupwardly by such pfesjsufe through an opening- -torn in thecorresponding end" of the top 1 f igfa another somewhat similar viewofthe package in which the ent re op of the'package has been tornawayandshitting the effect of center of the bottom thereof. l t

"Fig; 4 isa perspective view of a cigarette package-looking downwardlyupon the top ther of and showing alimited portion of the top" torn awayto form semen top openin ac br d'figto the pref pressing the sidesof thepackagetogetheifatthe erence ef inany cigarejtt users; M Figi -B; isaplan view=of thetop according-to theffirstjeinbodirfieht of tion theapproximate relatioh shi f 1 certain eigarettesfthereto beinginelioategl wig-signl ngth er a1 sect age f cigarettes taken-sues" nti'alltithe line Y of Fig; jthe iiisert;however,;be1 g shownenti 'XfirieieVationi In thist'ie'wthepackagefand at one or more points pp'iiedto the Fig. 8 is a sectional view substantially similar to Fig. 6showing the insert of Fig. 7 within a package.

It is understood, of course, that the wrappings of cigarette packagesmay be of different materials according to the preferences of themanufacturers and their desir to deliver a satisfactory package to theuser. At the present time it is common practice to employ one or severallayers of paper and an outer wrapping of suitable transparent material.Also different types of packaging machines are employed by the use ofwhich the wrapping material is folded in different ways.

However, the wrapping of most cigarette packages is quite pliant andthis liancy makes it possible to compress the package in the manneralready explained. I

The present invention comprises an insert II;, substantially rectangularin shape, snugly disposed within the package between the lower ends ofthe cigarettes and the layers of wrapping material constituting thebottom of the package. The said insert is preferably formed of a thinpiece of relatively rigid material. Cardboard having suitablecharacteristics is thoughtto be best for the purpose although,obviously, various other materials may be used. I

The inserts, in the illustrated embodiments, preferably are outcompletely through the thickness thereof as indicated in full lines inFigs. and 7 and scored on the top faces thereof as indicatedin dottedlines in said figures. Itwill be understood that by providing thementioned scoring on the top face of the insert, the deformation of theinsert resulting from pressureat the outer edges thereof will be such asto'cause inner portions thereof to rise within the package while certainouter edges thereof press downwardly upon the inside of the bottom ofthe package. All the scoring described in this specification ispreferably done on the top face of the insert, although scoring whichmay possibly be done on the bottom face thereof without defeating theobjects of this invention, is not to be considered as avoiding thepresent inventive concept. The inserts, further, preferably areconventional in design, cutting and scoring so that the desired resultsare obtained as a result of compression at the center of the bottom ofthe package or at either end thereof. In the embodiments described andillustrated herein, the mentioned conventionality is present laterallyof the insert as well as longitudinally thereof.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6 it should be observed that the insertillustrated therein is scored along opposite diagonal lines I2 whichconverge to form an apex I3 at the center of each end of the insert. Thescored diagonal lines I2 provide substantially triangular cornersections l4 and inner triangular sections I5. The bases of the trianglesof sections I5 are defined, for the greater part, by opposed cuts I6extending from opposite side edges of the insert to points therein nearthe centers of said bases. The mentioned cuts I6, together with opposedlongitudinal scores I1, define rectangular tabs I8 at the centers ofopposite sides of the insert,and the arrangement of the scores I! issuch as to provide a central neck portion I9 connecting the mentionedinner triangular sections located toward opposite ends of the device.

Within each of the inner triangular sections I5 an extension of thecentral neck portion I9 is formed by substantially U-shaped cuts 2|.These cuts, preferably, are formed not merely by effecting a cut throughthe insert material, but by actually cutting away a narrow U-shapedportion of said material; this to permit a triangular section I5 tofreely move upwardly out of the general plane of the insert (itsprincipal plane when in fiat condition) when the corresponding lower endportion of the package is compressed, while permitting the extension 20to remain substantially in the said general plane.

Scores 22 are preferably provided extending from the free ends of theU-shaped cuts 2I to the cuts I6. It may be observed that there areprefarably no cuts or scores whatever as lines of demarcation betweenthe central neck portion I9 and, the extensions 20, and hence thoseparts, in

the operation of the device, remain substantially undeformed althoughsome deformation might possibly occur at said lines of demarcation ifthe insert is made of material which possesses some pliancy, asdistinguished from the substantially rigid material hereinbeforerecommended. As deformation between the central neck portion I9 and theextensions 20 is somewhat undesirable,

the scores 22 are adapted to weaken or break down the materialsubstantially along the lines which they follow whereby to encourage afree upward pivotal movement of the triangular sections I5 about saidscores, when the device is operated, thus avoiding the transmission offorces, to the said neck portion and extensions, which might tend tocausesuch undesired deformation.

The diagonal scores I2 are each preferably interrupted at intermediatepoints thereof by angular cuts 23 forming triangular extensions 24 onthe sides I of the inner triangular sections I5. Under this arrangement,when the device is operated, the triangular sections 24 remainsubstantially as a part of and in the same plane as the relatedtriangular section I5, and the. said sections 24, as hereinafterexplained, assist in ejecting the cigarettes in th manner desired.

In the following detailed explanation of the operation of the device theseveral cigarettes at one end of a full freshly opened package aredesignated according to the reference characters a, b, c, d, e, I,applied to said cigarettes in Fig. 4, and to the-approximate positionsof said cigarettes as indicated in broken lines in Figs. 5 and 7.

Upon desiring to open a fresh package of cigarettes, it is commonpractice for the user to tear away the packaging material on the top ofthe package toward one end thereof, as shown in Fig. 4. The tearing awayof such material is facilitated by the fact that said material isordinarily folded over in the formation of the package and the saidfolds permit the tearing of said material to be easily started andcompleted. When the package is torn open in this fashion, usually aboutfive cigarettes a, b, c, d, e, are completely or substantially uncoveredso that all or several of them are free torise and protrude from thepackage p n the application of suitable means for that purpose.

According to the present invention the said purpose is accomplishedthrough the compressing of the package in the manner already described.The manner in which the mentioned compressing action accomplishes theelevation of several cigarettes in the package may best be understood byreference to-Figs. 5 and 6. When the lower end of the package is pressedtogether in the manner just mentioned, the corresponding corner sectionsI4 are forced to pivot downwardly about the scores I 2 and thu the outeredges I4a of said sections move inwardly with the depressed sides ofasses! the material constituting the package. As the said packagematerial; prevent any downward movement of the edges Ma during thementioned deformationof the package, it follows that, when thesectionsl4 move downwardly andinwardly, the innertriangular sections l'5necessarilyswing upwardly in apartial circular or pivotal'movement abouta point corresponding substantiallytoothe scores,22. As the scores 22arerelatively short, and the material atsaid scores constitutes the onlyconnection between the triangular section I I5 and the remainder of theinsertgit will be. under: stood,that the said scored portionsfunctionsubstantially as. hinges, permittingthe mentioned movement of the section1.5,, while the neck por.-. tion IS, the extensions 20 and allportionsof'th'e device toward theother end of the insert remainsubstantially in their original plane. It may be seen, by reference toFig. 5; thatportions of cigarettes aand 12 extend portions of thetriangularsections 24, cigarette c isdisposed over triangular section 15slightly removed from the apexthereof, and cigarettes 11 and e aredisposed within opposite base angles ofsaid. section l5. Thus, thedeformation of the insert resulting from compressing the end of thepackage causes :the

several mentioned cigarettes to rise and protrude from the packagesubstantially to the same extent that the mentioned portions of theinsert underlying saidcigarettes, are causedto rise as a result of suchdeformation. Fig. 6 serves to illustrate further the manner in which thesaid cigae rettesare elevated inthe package. From the fore: going,'itwill be apparent that, when the first ernbqdiment of the invention isemployed i a package andonly an end portion of l the top of thepackageis torn away as shown in Fig-.4, compression of the sides atthecorresponding ,end of the bottom thereof, causes five cigarettes topartly protrude from the top of the package so that one or morernayeasilyberemoved, A g,

If, on occasions,-auser desires to remove ,,the contents of an entirepack of cigarettes to put them into a cigarette case or other.container, the entire top of .the package is first torn away and thenthe sides-of the package are pressed together between the thumbandanother finger at a centralpointat the bottom of the package in. themanner illustrated in 'Fig. 3. The efiectof this pressure is to causethe rectangular tabs I 8,to

pursue apivotal movement downwardly andpinwardly, and as the outer edgesIlia of said tabs are restricted against downward movement relatively tothe package it follows that-all portions of the insert except said tabsmove upwardly and carrysubstantially all of the cigarettes upwardly tocause their uppenend to protrude above the top of thepackagewhereup ntheycan easily be removed and transferredto. another container;

Although it might seem that the several cigarettes directly above thetabs l8 would not rise as a result of the mentioned operation of thedeevice, elevation of such cigarettes would occur in most instances duetothe frictional engagement thereof with other adjacent cigarettes;Thisfric tional elevation of the ,cigarettes disposed above the tabs l8would, vofcourse, be aided by reason of the fact that the lower centralportionof the side wall of thepackage is pressed inwardly somee what inthe mentioned operation. t a The. second embodiment of; the invention,illus-.. trated in Figs. '7 and 8 differs from the first em'-. bodimentchiefly in that the extensionsozllqare enlarged to almost th'e. entirewidth of thepdevjce s tss i F tzflf epur of this-e largement of the saidextensions isto render substantially thev entire area. of.;the insertunderneath cigarettes 1.. .e. and f substantially ,rigid with the neckapi ion I9 to. minimi e the tend of thelastthree mentioned ;cigarettes tobe elevated when the device is operated, or course, asa practicalmatter, thesaidgtabs can not-very well e made. to include ,theentirearea underneathfthe mentioned-three cigarettes, as to. do so would makeit difl'icult, if not impossiblepto maintain a connection betweentheiendpo tions of the device and. the central-portions of the device toconstituteit aunitary structure. However, the embodiment now i beingdescribed includes scores 26 substantially in. line with.- the, outeredges 20a of said extensions, which, with the'end portions 1.2a of thediagonal scores l2, rendersubstantially pliant and capable of aslighttwistingaction, the narrow connecting portions 21 which connect theouter; ends of the; device tO-ythe inner portion thereof as a unitarystructure. .This pliancy and the capacity to twist slightly,;permi tstheareal! 5a of the triangular section I5 to swing upwardly about a linepassing substantially between cigarettes a and d on. the one side ofth'epackage, and]: and e on theother side of the package.

It .willbe seen byareference to. Figs. .7 and. 8 thatwhenpressure is;exerted on the lowerend of the package including this embodiment: andpartially opened asshownin Fig. 4, cigarettes a and b are elevatedbythetriangular sections 24, and cigarette c. is elevated by engagementwith the triangular section I5 at a point slightlyw re moved. from theapex :thereof. I When thisaembodiment is used, however, cigarettes .dandxe are not positively elevated by .;the insert because of theflexingvotthelatter at. the :scores ZGand,

of course, :as. cigarette firestswntirelyupon the extension 20,itlikewisewould not be positively elevated bythe insert. 115- the packageis. torn open in such manner .that:the. tops l of cigarettes d, eandjare-fully exposed, they mayrise someel What in the package through.frictional engagement with cigarettes a, b and 0, but such move-v mentis entirely consiste'nt with the obJects i the invention; In order .toelevate all the cigarettes in a packthe second"embodiment functionssimilarly to the first embodiment, "'It will b'e se en that by usingeither-"form of the-invention illustrated and described herein, verysimple means are provided 'for accomplishing the"desird-iresults.- "Ifheinserts may be made of relativelyinexpensive"material, preferably; acardboard of 1 suitable thickness and other characteristics satisfactoryfor. the purpose, and such inserts can readily be incorporated into thepackage during or after the formation ot the latter; Hencqthe' cost ofthe insert and of i'ncorporatingit into the" package almost neg igibleand yet the result to be achieved, na'rh'ely, a package which may beeas'ilyjopened and started, is'jhighly desirable I In referring hereinto scoring? without de;-'

scribing 'a particularjtype.ofseoring or a particu lar means. of formingit, the said term comprehends scoring of, any, type ,adapted to,facilitate deformation of flat. materiaLirrespective of the meansmployed in" formingf such. scoring. @Itshouldwbe. un'derstood oflcourse, that the inventive eonceptdis closed; herein may be we. ticed inmany formsandthat such variatio ns in form, althoughflnot specificallyillustrated and described he i may; nev theles be w i t invent ouiadefia d theacgqm a y e c ims,

at least one dimension'foi t h'e package the said element comprisinghirrgc'dly'-'con'nec'ted. sections with the axis of the hinge extendingtransversely of said dimension, a portion of the sai'd element beingadapted,'-in*' response Jto pressure exerted transversely of said axis'on outeredges otsa-id sections; to pivotir'omthe" general plane oisaid-"element, :and'the latter; in eonseduenee of suchpivota-l movement,being adapted to co'aot with the package covering and one or-more of thearticles' to urge the latter toward and} partly through an opening insaid-- covering" registering with the urged-articles. -I v a 2'.Apackage according-to claim 1, further characterizedin that v the:connection between the ihingedlyconnectedr sections comprises ahingeadapted to constrain theouter edge of at least 'one of saidhingedly-connected sections to oftheelement." r 1 I v 3t=A packageaccording to claim I, further characterized in ill-at the connection"between'the hingedly-connected sections comprisesa' weakened; portionadapted to bend under the mentioned: pressure to permit such pivotalmovement of said sections. 1 I -4. A"package 'ac'cording'to claim 1,further characterized in that the connection between thehingedly-connectedsections comprises a portion scored predominantly onthe face-of the element adjacent the articles, the scoring being of achar acter' adapted: to constrain the outer edge of at least. one ofsaid hingedlyeconnected sections to. pivot downwardly relativehtothegeneral plane of the element. 1 1 .w i v. n

5. A package comprising a plurality of cigarettes, or likezarticles, acovering of pliant mate.- rial substantially enclosing said articles,and a pivotdownwardly relatively tothe general plane substantially.fiat, element within the covering and; in addition to the coveringmateriaLthe said element being ,of relatively rigid material andunderlying the common ends; of ,a; plurality of the articles andextending; substantiallyacross at. least one dimensionof the, "package,thesaid element comprising separate pairsooithingedlyconnected sectionsat; opposite sides of the element with the iaxesprthehinees extendingtransversely of saiddimension, the sections of each pair beingjadapted,response to, pressure exerted transversely of thehingfi axis of thepairon'outer edges of) saidsections', to pivot from the general I plane'ofthe element, and the latter, in consequence of such pivotal movementoithe sections of eitherof saidj pairs, being adapted to 'coact withthelpjackage covering and one or more of the articles to urge-the,latter toward and partly through an opening 'insaid covering registering'with' the urged articles. I

.6. A package according togclaim 5', further characterized in thatthesaid pairs are, in spaced relation longitudinallyof the element, andin having a pairofhinged'l'y c'onnect'ed sections, intermediate thementioned separate pairs with the axis of'the hingeof'the'lattersect'ions' ex tending longitudinally of'the element; the sections'ofthe intermediate pairbeing adapted, in

,haymg'seoring predominantly on one face thereof and'cutstnerethroughfthe said scoring and cuts coa'ctir-i'g to permit portionsof said element to pivot inwardly in response to I pressure exertedinwardly upon outer-edges thereof, the said portions, when so pivotedinwardly, being adapted to enact with adjacent packaging material andwith other portions of the "said element whereby tor'aise the said otherportions within the" package and, consequently, to move upwardlythe'cigarettes overlying said other portions,

the said'clevice being further characterized in that the said element issubstantially rectangular and has'diagonal scoring lines partiallydefining triangular corner sections and "an inner triangularsection; a

' 8. A device, for partially ejecting cigarettes or thelikefrom apackage formed of pliant materialfcon iprisin'g a flat element adaptedfor disposition in the bottom of the package under a plurality ofcigarettes therein, th'e said element having scoringpredominantly on oneface thereof and cuts therethrough, the said scoring and cutscoacting topermit portions of said element to pivot inwardly in response topressure exerted inwardly upon outer'edges'thereof, the said p'ortions;whenso'pi-Voted inwardly, being adapted to coact with adjacent packagingmaterial and with other portions of the said element whereby to-raisethe said other portions within the package and, consequently, to moveupwardly the cigarettes overlying said other'portions, the said devicebeing further characterized in'that the said element is substantiallyrectangular and has diagonal scoring linespartially defining triangularcornersections and triangular sections, andalso has opposed. cutsextending laterally, inwardlyiromthe sides of said element, which cutsdefine substantial parts of the hases'of the said inner triangularsections.

- 9; A device, for partially ejecting cigarettes or the like from apackage formed of pliant mate- 'rialpcornprising a flat element adaptedfor disposition in the bottom of the package under a, plurality ofcigarettes therein, the said element having scoring predominantly on oneface thereof and cuts therethrough, the said scoring and cuts coactin'gto permit portions ofsaid element to pivot inwardly in response-topressure exerted inwardly upon outer 'edges'the'reof, the saidportions', when so pivoted inwardly, being adapted to'coact-withadjacent packaging material and other portions of the said elementwhereby to raise the said other portions within the package andconsequently, to move upwardly the define asubstantial part of the baseof the said inner triangular section; and parallel longitudinal scoresdefining the sides of a central neck portion and theinner limits ofrectangular tabs at opposite sides of said neck portion. i

10. A device, for partially ejecting cigarettes or the like from apackage formed of pliant mate'- rial, comprising a fiat element adaptedfor disposition in the bottom of the package under a plurality ofcigarettes therein, the said element [having scoring predominantly onone face thereof and' cuts therethrough, the said scoring and cutscoacting topermit portions of said element to pivot inwardly in responseto pressure exerted inwardly upon outer edges thereof, the saidportions, when so pivoted inwardly, being adapted to f coact withadjacent packaging material and with other portions of the said elementwhereby to raise the said other portions within the package and,consequently, to move upwardly the cigarettes overlying said otherportions, the said device being further characterized in that the saidelement is substantially rectangular and 1 has diagonal scoring linespartially defining triangular corner sections and an inner triangularsection, opposed cuts extending laterally, inwardly from the sides ofsaid element, which cuts define a substantial part of the base of thesaid inner triangular section, parallel longitudinal scores definingthesides of a central neck portion and the inner limits of rectangulartabs at opposite sidesof said neck portion, and a cut extending betweenpoints slightly removed from the inner ends of the said opposed,laterally extending cuts.

11. A device, for partially ejecting cigarettes or the like from apackage formed of pliant material, comprising a flat element adapted fordisposition in the bottom of the package under a plurality of cigarettestherein, the said element having scoring predominantly on one facethereof and cuts therethrough, the said scoringand cuts coactin-g topermit portions of said element to pivot inwardly inresponse to pressureexerted inwardly upon outer edges thereof, the saidportions, when sopivoted inwardly, being adapted to coact with adjacent packagingmaterial and with other portions of the said element whereby to raisethe said other portions within the package and, consequently, to moveupwardly the cigarettes overlying said other portions, the said devicebeing further characterized in that the said element is substantiallyrectangular and has diagonal scoring lines partially defining triangularcorner sections and inner triangular sec-- tions, opposed cuts extendinglaterally, inwardly from the sides of said element, which cuts definesubstantial parts of the bases of the said inner triangular sections,parallel longitudinal scores defining the sides of a central neckportion and the inner limits of rectanagular tabs at opposite sides ofsaid neck portion, and an inner cut extending between points slightlyremoved from the inner ends of the said opposed,'laterally extendingcuts, scoring being provided connecting the last mentioned cutsand theends of the inner cut.

12. A device, for partially ejecting cigarettes or the like from apackage formed of pliant material, comprising a flat element adapted fordisposition in the bottom of the package under a plurality of cigarettestherein, the said element having scoring predominan'tly on one facethereof and cuts therethrough, the said scoring and said cuts coacti-ngto permit portions of said element with other portions of the saidelement whereby to raise the said other portions within'the package and,consequently, to move upwardly "the cigarettes overlying said otherportions, the said device being further characterized in that :the' saidelement is substantiallyrectangular and has diagonal scoring linespartially defining triangular corner sections and inner triangularsections, opposed cuts extending laterally, inwardly from the sides ofsaid element, which cuts define substantial parts of the bases of" thesaid inner triangular sections, parallel longitudinal scores definingthe sides of a central neck portion and the inner limits of rectangulartabs at opposite sides of said neck portion, and inner cuts extendingbetween points slightly removed from the inner ends of the said opposed,laterally extending cuts, the saidinner cuts being U-shaped and havingtheir convex sides extending toward the apex of the related innertriangular section, thereby partially defining extensions to the'saidcentral neck portion.

13. A device, for partially ejecting cigarettes or th like from apackage formed of pliant material, comprising a flat element adapted fordisposition in the bottom of the package under a plurality of cigarettestherein, the said element to coact with adjacent packaging material andwith other portions of the said element whereby to raise the said otherportions within the package and, consequently, to move upwardly thecigarettes overlying said other portions, the said device being furthercharacterized in that the said element is substantially rectangular andhas diagonal scoring lines partially defining triangular corner sectionsand an inner triangular section, opposed cuts extending laterally,inwardly from the sides of said element, which cuts define a substantialpart of the base of the said inner triangular section,- parallellongitudinal scores defining the sides of a central neck portion and theinner limits of rectangular tabs at opposite sides of said neck portion,a cut extending between points slightly removed from the inner ends ofthe said opposed, laterally extending cuts, and cuts formingsupplemental tab portions on the sides of the said inner triangularsections, the diagonal scoring being interrupted at the bases of thesaid supplemental tab portions.

14. A device, for partially ejecting cigarettes or the like from apackage formed of pliant matenal, comprisin a fiat element adapted fordisposition in the bottom of the package under a plurality of cigarettestherein, the said element having scoring predominantly on one facethereof and cuts therethrough, the said scoring and cuts coacting topermit portions of said element to pivot inwardly in response topressure exerted inwardly upon outer edges thereof, the said portions,when so pivoted inwardly, being adapted to coact with adjacent packagingmaterial and with other portions of the said element whereby to raisethe said other portions within the packdevice being furthercharacterized in that the said element is substantially rectangular andhas diagonal scoring lines partially defining triangular cornersectionsand inner triangular sections, opposed cuts extending laterally,inwardly from the sides of said element, which cuts define substantialparts of the bases of the said inner triangular sections, parallellongitudinal scores defining the sides of a central neck portion and theinner limits of rectangular tabs at opposite sides of said neck portion,a cut extending between points slightly removed from the inner ends ofthe said'opposed, laterally extending cuts, and cuts formingsupplemental tab portions on'the sides of the said inner triangularsections,

the diagonal scoring being interrupted at the basesof'the saidsupplemental tab portions, the lastmentioned cuts being angular and thesaid supplemental tab portions being triangular.

15. A device, for partially ejecting cigarettes or the like from apackageformgd of pliant material, comprising a flat element adapted fordisposition in thebottom of the package under a plurality of cigarettestherein, the said element liavingscoring predominantly n one facethereof and cuts therethrough, the said" scoring and cuts coacting topermit portions of said element to pivot inwardly in response topressure exerted inwardly upon outer edges thereof, the said portions,when so pivoted inwardly, being adapted to coact with adjacent packagingmaterial and with other portions of the said element whereby to raisethe said other portions within the package and, consequently, to moveupwardly the cigarettes overlying said other portions, the said 16. Adevice, for partially ejecting cigarettes or the like fro m apackagefonmed of pliant material, comprising a'fiat element adapted fordisposition in the bottom of the package under a plurality of cigarettestherein, the said element having scoring-predominantly on one face thereof and'cuts therethrough, the said scoring and cuts coacting'to permitportions of said element to pivot inwardly in response to pressureexerted inwardly upon outer edges thereof, the said portions, when sopivoted inwardly, being adapted to coact with adjacent packagingmaterial and with other portions of the said element whereby to raisethe said other portions within the package and, consequently, to moveupwardly the the outer endsof the said opposed, laterally extendingcuts, the said inner out being U-shaped and having 'its convex sidextending toward the apex of an adjacent inner triangular section,thereby partially defining a laterally extending extension to the saidcentral neck portion.

17. A device, for partially ejecting cigarettes or the like from apackage formed of pliant-material, comprising aflat element adapted fordisposition in the bottom of the package under a plurality of cigarettestherein, the said e'lement having scoring predominantly on one facethereof and cuts therethrough, the said scoring and outs coacting topermit portions of said element to pivot inwardly in response to pressurexerted inwardly upon outer edges'thereof, thesaid portions, when sopivoted inwardly, being adapted to coact with adjacent packagingmaterialand with other portions of the saidelement whereby to raise the saidother portions within the package and, consequently, to move upwardlythe cigarettes overlying said other portions, the said devic beingfurther characterized in that the said element is substantiallyrectangular and has diagonal scoring lines partially defining triangularcorner sections and inner triangular sections, parallel longitudinalscores defining the sides of a central neck portionand th inner limitsof rectangular tabs at opposite sides of said neck portion, opposedcutsiextendinglaterally, inwardly from the sides of said element andpartially defining said tabs, and inner cuts ex- 18; A device,for'partially ejecting cigarettes or the like from a package formed ofpliant material, comprising a fiatelement adapted for'disposition in thebottom of the package under a plurality of cigarettes therein, the saidelement {having scoring predominantly on one face there-'- of and'cutstherethrough, the said scoring and cuts coacting to permit portions ofsaid element to pivot inwardly in response to pressure exerted inwardlyupon outer edges thereof, the said porcigarettes overlyingsaid otherportions, the said device being further characterized in that the saidelementis'substantially rectangular and has diagonal scoring linespartially defining triangular corner sections and inner triangularsections, parallel longitudinal scores defining the sides of a centralneck portion and the inner limits of rectangular tabs at opposite sidesof said neck portion, opposed cuts extending laterally,

inwardly'from the sides ofs'aid element and partially defining saidtabs,and an inner cut eX- tending 'between points slightly removed fromtions, when so pivoted inwardlybeing adapted to coact with adjacentpackaging material and with other portions o f the said element wherebyto raise the said other portionswithin the package and, consequently, tomove upwardly the cigarettes overlying said other portions, the saiddevice beingfurther'characterized in that the said element issubstantially rectangular and has diagonal scoring lines partiallydefining triangular corner sections and inner triangular sections,parallel longitudinal scores defining the sides of a central neckportionand the inner limits of rectangulartabs at opposite sides of said neckportion, opposed cuts extending laterally, inwardly from the sides ofsaid element and partially defining said tabs, 2, cut extendingbetweenpoints slightly removed from the outer ends of the said opposed,laterally extending cuts, and cuts forming supplemental tab portions onthe sides of the said inner triangular sections, the diagonalscoringbeing interrupted at the base'sof the said supplemental tab portions.

19. A package comprising a plurality of cigarettes or like articles, acovering of pliant material substantially enclosing said articles, and asubstantially flat element at one end of the package and in substantialface to face relation to said pliant material with outeredge portions ofthe elementin contact with portions of the pliant material, the saidelement being in addition to the covering material and of relativelyrigid nected sections with the axisof the hinge extending transverselyof said dimension, outer response to pressure exerted transversely ofsaid axis on said outer edges of said sections, to pivot from thegeneral plane of said element, and the latter, in consequence of suchpivotal movement,

being adapted to coact with the package covering and one or more of thearticles to urge the latter toward and partly through an opening in saidcovering registering with the urged articles.

NICHOLAS P. COURTNEY.

